Lie Down in Peace
Lie Down in Peace. Not only is God truly good, but He also puts gladness in our hearts, gives us peace when we sleep, and and grants us safety in our dwelling.
6 There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 4:6-8, NKJV
Lie Down in Peace
When I was a child it was our habit to do our house cleaning every Saturday; while cleaning, my mother always had the radio turned on to our local station. The station sponsored a Children's Bible Hour every Saturday morning. I still remember the story, one Saturday, based upon Psalm 4:8. Even as a child I often found it difficult to sleep because of my fears. I was so struck by this verse, that I have used it ever since whenever I find the cares of this world keeping me from sleep.
The
verses shown above are so true in our cynical world today. We are
naturally skeptical of anyone who offers something "good." Our first
thought is, "What's in it for you?" We are truly selfish creatures, and
apart from Christ can never truly do good things. Even Christ admitted
this to a man who came to Him and called Him, "Good Master." Christ's
response, found in Matthew 19:17, Mark 10:18, and Luke 18:19, was, Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
But
wait, there is more! Not only is God truly good, but He also puts
gladness in our hearts, gives us peace when we sleep, and and grants us
safety in our dwelling. The Christian life is often filled with trials
and struggles, but only the true Christian has God's blessing upon his
life so that he can claim Psalm 4:6-8.
We are also taught in our cynical society that if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably isn't. In most ways that is true of this world in which we live. We are accustomed to times of great violence and lack of trust.
We listen to our politicians and suspect that most of what they are saying are just lies to get us to vote for them. We are used to crooked politicians, crooked lawyers, and the list goes on.
Then we come to God's Holy Word, and suddenly things are truly different. God's Words are true and faithful. We can trust what we read, and even though it sounds way too good to be true, it is true! This is the wondrous God we serve. He grants us salvation, and God grants us true peace during a time of great worldwide turmoil.
Yes, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can lie down and sleep peacefully knowing that our great God has everything under control. Nothing can stay His hand!
Pray, today, that Christ will come to you and save you; then, you, too, can say with the Psalmist, I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Devotional Reflections Home Page
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.